POWER cluster works as competence network of actors from economy, science, administration and policy as well as communication. In work package 2 “Business” as main focus of the project offshore business will be supported by impart knowledge and technologic innovation.

Therefore one activity is to bring together research institutes and businesses for joint projects as well as to link the international research in order to develop joint EU applications for example.

With this background and motivation the survey was assigned to give an overview about offshore research activities of universities, Institutes and test fields along the POWER cluster partner states Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany.

With this survey about offshore research in the North Sea region the basis should be built to generate innovative projects in cooperation between business and research in order to apply for EU funding.

Looking from this desk research with a kind of bird perspective on the offshore research landscape around the North Sea region it seems that every national country has a wide range of research resources and competences – mostly coordinated by national networks and clusters.
Based on this survey there is a need to go more into detail in order to find differences but also synergies:

- Which could be involved in well balanced joint research projects
- To meet the future challenges of the offshore business.

Starting on the other hand from the point of possible EU funding structures especially the 7th Framework Programme as well as the programme “Investing in the Development of Low Carbone Technologies” have to be taken into consideration.

Developing a project application with the purpose of getting grants from an EU programme can be a challenging and time-consuming process – typically with a duration of 9-13 months.

POWER cluster has developed an online “Project Development Facility” designed to help non-experienced/less experienced companies, organizations, NGOs, researchers, etc. with the application process in relation to EU programmes. It should be noted that this tool is not designed for a specific EU programme, but to give applicants an overall indication of the project development and application process.

The tool is intended to be used by the institution to provide an overview of the long application process within the EU programmes. It advises on how project participants should act on each step in the project development cycle. Further, it refers to several and relevant websites.

Developing a project application with the purpose of getting grants from an EU programme can be a challenging and time-consuming process – typically with a duration of 9-13 months.

POWER cluster has developed an online “Project Development Facility” designed to help non-experienced/less experienced companies, organizations, NGOs, researchers, etc. with the application process in relation to EU programmes. It should be noted that this tool is not designed for a specific EU programme, but to give applicants an overall indication of the project development and application process.

The tool is intended to be used by the institution to provide an overview of the long application process within the EU programmes. It advises on how project participants should act on each step in the project development cycle. Further, it refers to several and relevant websites.